My Summer So Far

Shew!!! What a summer it has been! I don't know about y'all, but this has been one of the craziest and most eventful summers of my life! The summer of 2016 has been a memorable one and one of the better summers ever!

..... Sorry about all the exclamation points.

Anyways, let me try and catch y'all up to what I've been up to since June 1. 

On June 7th, I hopped aboard a plane and headed to Europe for ten days. 

We went to Switzerland, 

Germany, 

And France, 

We looked over breathtaking Zurich, 

We ate ice cream on a canal in France, 

We went to a beautiful Farmers Market in Germany, 

And a hundred more things. Let me also mention that in addition to all the adventuring that we did, we also did do quite a bit of studying. The point of the trip was to learn about renewable energy and I did do just that. 

This was one of the wind turbines that we were able to go in. 

I got back from Europe on June 16 and June 17 I headed down to Calloway County, Kentucky to work with Kentucky Changers. 

Almost three hundred people descended upon Calloway County to bring the message of Christ through hands-on missions work. 

I was blessed to be able to work with a wonderful crew. We built two decks and a handicap ramp for a wonderful homeowner. 

I got a week "off" from Changers that was full of working and Vacation Bible School at Red House. I had the privilege of being an assistant teacher for some very precious third graders. Third grade is such a fun age! (I say that, but I think I'm much more comfortable with the preschoolers) 

After that, I was able to go back to Kentucky Changers but this time as a member of the Ministry Team! For two weeks I got to spend time with some of the best students in the state of Kentucky as we working in Greensburg and Frankfort. 

Not only did I get to hang out with students, but I also got to spend time with the wonderful members of the Ministry Team. I can honestly say that when it was time for us to pack up and go home, I was super sad to leave them all. 

So, are we up to speed? Good, because in the middle of all that craziness I have also been interning with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture working with the Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program. 

Well, that's been my summer. Let me just say that this has been the most adventure-tastic (that's TOTALLY a word) summer I've had and it's really given me an appetite for crazy, awesome, adventure. Honestly it doesn't matter to me if I'm adventuring just a few counties over or halfway around the world, I've found that I really like being active, helping people, and serving God. So hopefully, my life will be able to be characterized by those things. 

"It is better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times." 

xoxo,

Gayle 

Craft Goes to Keeneland

About a week ago I posted this photo on my Instagram,

This was such a fun day. We started out by leaving Morehead around 6;30 and headed to Lexington. After some mishaps we ended up at Keeneland and got to eat breakfast in the track kitchen. There were jockeys and trainers and other "horse people" eating with us. It was fun to eat around people who know more about horses than I ever will. 

Then we got to take a guided tour of Keeneland. 

Even though nothing was in bloom because it was super cold, Keeneland is breathtakingly beautiful. We started at the paddocks. 

Then we went through the tunnel. This tunnel has actually been used in several movies including Secretariat! You can see our lovely tour guide in this photo. She was amazing and knew so much about Keeneland. 

Then we went into the Winner's Circle and looked at the track. We were supposed to have been able to see the horses workout, but time constraints meant that we had to skip out on this. 

From the Winner's Circle you have a perfect view of the stands, which are absolutely gorgeous. Honestly, there is nothing at Keeneland that isn't beautiful. 

We also saw these nifty little statues which all have a meaning, but I'm not a horse person so I can't remember what they mean.

Then we went to the Sales Pavilion which is where all the horses are sold. Our tour guide gave us a pretty detailed explanation of the process that is involved when people decide to sell their lovely horses. 

We also got to go behind the sales stage and see where the horses are brought in from. Most of Keeneland's money is made in sales and you can tell this by the amount of money they've spent in their Sales Pavilion. 

Keeneland is an absolutely beautiful place that if you get the chance to visit you definitely need to visit. I am super excited to back during a race and see the racetrack with actual horses on it.

Love and Happy Reading, 

Gayle 

xoxo

Back to School

I've been back at school for a week now, and what a whirlwind week it's been!

I've had some dinner with a great friend.

Done quite a bit of homework. I mean after all, this is college and I am here to learn something. 

Helped with Registration Day for Craft's incoming class.  For those of you that didn't know, I'm a Craft Academy Ambassador. Which means that I get the really awesome job of representing Craft at various functions and events. (I also get a really cool name tag). It's really an amazing opportunity and I'm so thankful to have been chosen.

I also went to Keeneland! I posted this photo on my Instagram Saturday, but it's just such a great shot of the racetrack that I couldn't help but put it up yet again. I'm not going to say much about this day as there will be a post here on DC coming out, hopefully, next week. For now,


Love and Happy Reading,

Gayle

xoxo

What I Learned in my First Semester of College

Yesterday I finished my very first semester of college. I am 1/4 of the way through my Craft Academy experience, and in another year and a half I will be half way through my Undergraduate degree. WOW. That really is something, isn't it? Honestly, this past semester has flown by so fast that I can't believe it's over. I've learned so many things, met so many people, and discovered so much about myself these past months. Here's just some of them:

1) Everyone is as terrified as you are. 

I guess when I started college I thought that everyone would have their life together and know what they were doing. I was SO wrong. There are a few upperclassmen and graduate students who know what they are doing, but everyone else is just "winging it". The important thing is to remember that there's nothing wrong with not knowing how to do something. Just be willing to admit it and ask for help. That's a sign of maturity.

2) You will make friends. 

My biggest fear going it to this program was that I would not be able to make friends. Honestly, I thought that I was going to that weird person that just kind of exists, but that's not what happened. I have an amazing friend group that I love dearly. I've found that in college, you make friends fast. One day, you know no one and the next you come home to this on your door:

That's just how it goes!

3) Every day is different. 

When I was home, every day was pretty much the same. Now, I wake up, I get dressed and hold on for the amazing ride. Every day is different. Every day is exciting. Every day I'm reminded of just how much I love the place I'm at.

4) Just have fun. 

College is definitely first and foremost about getting an education. That's the most important thing about going to school, but having fun is really important too. Sometimes you just have to cut loose and have good, safe fun.

(Sometimes good, safe fun is crashing the children's section of the Tree-Lighting and taking a photo with Frat-boy Santa)

5) Still.... study hard. 

I studied hard, so hard this semester, and I'm proud to say I will most likely end up with a 4,0 (not all my grades are in yet). At the beginning of the semester, I would have never thought that I would be madly in love with math, let alone tutoring it. I would have never thought I'd be looking forward to taking Calculus or that I'd be willingly taking on the trifecta of doom (Calculus, Biology 171, and Chemistry 111). Honestly, I fully expected to get into this program and completely fail, but I didn't.

Not too bad for my first college level paper.

6) Don't forget your old friends. 

I am so lucky not only to have amazing friends at Craft, but also to have the most incredible support group here. They are my oldest friends. We have grown up together: traversing the cute, awkward, and "attitud-inal" phases. They are amazing, and I love them. I am so thankful that they still keep in touch with me, and invite me to all their gatherings while I'm at home. I never thought that I'd be the first one of us to leave home, but I'm glad that I still get their support.

6) Always, always go home. 

Now I don't mean spend every weekend at home because you hate school so much. No, I think it's important that college students make their own lives outside of their hometowns and parents, but it is extremely, extremely important to stay connected to your family. You're parents are the most important people in your lives, and it is important that you go home. If you can't go home, call home. Call your mama, she worries about you. Call your daddy, he loves you. Just whatever you do, don't ever take your parents for granted.

Love and Happy Reading, 

Gayle 

xoxo 

The Browning Orchard Festival

The Department of Agriculture Sciences here at Morehead really is amazing. They do so many things here on campus that you really can't miss them. They even grow some of the food that is served to the student body.

The thing with the Agriculture department is that much of your learning happens outside the classroom. Their farm is amazing, but it's a little known fact that Morehead also has an orchard.

It was donated several years ago by the Browning Family, and it's actually in Fleming County. Every year the Agriculture department sponsors the Browning Orchard Festival. Luckily, Craft decided to have a bus for us, and I got to go. 

First of all, this orchard is gorgeous, and this festival is a big deal. 

That's just some of the cars that were there. (Before you ask, I did not walk out to get this photo. I'm no where near dedicated enough to this blog to walk out in the middle of a field to get a photo. I was on a hay ride, but that comes later) 

After we ate, we walked through the farm store. There they had apples, apple cider, honey, and MUMS!

Now, I'm a sucker for a pretty mum. So..... 

I'm now a proud plant parent. I think I'll call it Charlotte. I'm so proud of you, Charlotte. 

Anyways, I wandered back to the main tent where they had live music. I made it just in time to see Dr. Andrews join the band and serenade us with "I'll Fly Away". 

(That's him in the blue.)

He sang several songs with the band, and it was just wonderful. I love the fact that Dr. Andrews does this kind of stuff all the time. He's not someone who sits behind a desk and is never seen. He's out and about on campus. He talks to the students. He's really very personable. 

Next we decided to take a hayride. 

They took us to an old schoolhouse that is on the Browning property. The University restored it to its original beauty. 

The school housed grades 1-8. Children that wanted to go to high school had to move in to Flemingsburg or go without. Over the years, the Poston Schoolhouse played a major role in the lives of the families living near the Browning Orchard.

While they were restoring, they came across a painting from 1948 that one of the students did. 

One of the students in the Art Department restored it. It looks brand new. 

The schoolhouse sits atop a little knoll. Needless to say, it has a beautiful view of the Kentucky landscape. I think I'll always be in love with the rolling hills here. There's just something so overwhelmingly comforting about them. 

After the schoolhouse we went back to the main festival site, and enjoyed some caramel apples. 

They were so good we forgot to take a picture. So here's our half-eaten caramel apples. I must say, those were the best apples I've ever had. 

Then we loaded back up and headed home. All in all, it was a fun festival, and I'm glad I got to go. I wouldn't say that this is an absolute must; however, if you're in the area next year, come check it out. 

A Night at the Theater

Morehead has been plastered with posters promoting the play "Little Women" for weeks now. They are all over campus and every business has one, and of course, since Little Women is my favorite book, I just had to go. Rebekah and I decided to make a night of it.

Before the play we went out to eat at a fabulous little Italian restaurant called Melini Cuzina Italian, every body just calls it Melini's. They, hands down, have the best pizza in town. If you're in Morehead, you have to stop by and get some. However, since Rebekah and I were attempting to have a night of refinement we tried some of their pasta.

Let me tell you, it was delicious! They have one of the best sauces that I've ever had. I am obsessed with it. Also, their bread sticks are amazing.

We also splurged and bought some desert. Their turtle cheesecake left nothing to be desired. The graham cracker crust was yummy, the chocolate layer thick, the cheesecake rich, and the caramel delicious.

I'm not sure, but I think Rebekah enjoyed her cannoli as well.

That's the face of someone who's found heaven in a desert.

After eating way, way too much, we waddled down main street to the Arts Center. I wish you all could see this little town. For some reason, it didn't occur to me to take a picture. Morehead really is a darling little town, and I'm glad that I get to live in this artsy little town.

The play was a wonderful little production. It was beautiful acted, and it was really a reverent handling of one of my favorite books. I was amazing by what they were able to accomplish with only one set and a rather small cast. They skipped huge portions of the book, but I never felt like anything was missing.

(The only photo I took of the set was a snapchat, that I just barely managed to save. Oh well!)

What made it come together so well was the acting. In fact, the acting was so good that Rebekah was actually sobbing through the end of Act II and the intermission. When the actress that delivered the moving performance came back on stage at the end to bow, Rebekah started to cry again. I too may or may not have been a little teary eyed.

The Morehead Theatre Guild will be putting on one more play this season, and I would strongly encourage you to go. "Dearly Departed: A Deathly Funny Comedy" will be playing November 6-8 and 13-15. If "Little Women" is any indication of their quality of production, you won't want to miss any of their plays.